Gallery 8
And another...
1. Above: J-Park, Sriracha
Thailand has always had its Japanese quarters, like Thong Lo and Ekkamai in Bangkok or Sriracha and Laem Chabang in Chonburi - all related to Japanese expat employment - but I am not sure when the love affair with all things Japan took off. It’s not just the eateries such as Fuji and Yayoi which have been all over for years, but now there are out-of-town malls like this one near Sriracha. J-Park offers you a total Japan experience, complete with the Don Don Donki supermarket which visually assaults as you enter the premises and takes you instantly to Tokyo.
Thailand has always had its Japanese quarters, like Thong Lo and Ekkamai in Bangkok or Sriracha and Laem Chabang in Chonburi - all related to Japanese expat employment - but I am not sure when the love affair with all things Japan took off. It’s not just the eateries such as Fuji and Yayoi which have been all over for years, but now there are out-of-town malls like this one near Sriracha. J-Park offers you a total Japan experience, complete with the Don Don Donki supermarket which visually assaults as you enter the premises and takes you instantly to Tokyo.
2. Above: Laem Phak Bia (Royal Project), Phetchaburi (I)
The Laem Phak Bia project's aim is to treat wastewater and solid waste before returning it to the sea. The area also regenerates mangrove forest which can be traversed all the way to the shore via elevated duckboards. Looking down you can see the various types of crab lurking amongst the roots – annotated noticeboards along the way identify the many species. The wetlands are also in the top ten in Thailand for birdwatching; unfortunately, I didn’t have my bird book with me so couldn’t ID several water birds that I had not seen before. I'm up to date on crabs, though!
The Laem Phak Bia project's aim is to treat wastewater and solid waste before returning it to the sea. The area also regenerates mangrove forest which can be traversed all the way to the shore via elevated duckboards. Looking down you can see the various types of crab lurking amongst the roots – annotated noticeboards along the way identify the many species. The wetlands are also in the top ten in Thailand for birdwatching; unfortunately, I didn’t have my bird book with me so couldn’t ID several water birds that I had not seen before. I'm up to date on crabs, though!
3. Above: Hot Springs in Thailand
There are a number of places in Thailand which have hot springs. Doi Saket Hot Spring is 35 kms east of Chiang Mai. You can dip your feet in a communal channel, buy some sulphur infused hard-boiled eggs or rent a private bath for 100 baht per person. What could be better than sitting in the life-affirming waters while watching the cows in a field, knowing that your skin will feel really smooth for the next ten days? Jumping in a cold river straight afterwards perhaps? You can do that at Hindad Hot Spring north-west of Kanchanaburi where a river runs alongside the thermal pool.
There are a number of places in Thailand which have hot springs. Doi Saket Hot Spring is 35 kms east of Chiang Mai. You can dip your feet in a communal channel, buy some sulphur infused hard-boiled eggs or rent a private bath for 100 baht per person. What could be better than sitting in the life-affirming waters while watching the cows in a field, knowing that your skin will feel really smooth for the next ten days? Jumping in a cold river straight afterwards perhaps? You can do that at Hindad Hot Spring north-west of Kanchanaburi where a river runs alongside the thermal pool.
4. Above: Rugby World Cup, Japan
Japan hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2019. One of the main sponsorship brands was Heineken which meant that other brands of beer could not be sold in the stadiums. Sacrilege! So, instead of the girls patrolling the aisles with a backpack of Asahi or Sapporo beer to serve you at your seat, they were wandering about with a tray filled with cans of Heineken which were not even a pint-glassful. Oh dear! Pictured here are England fans in Sapporo of all places, standing outside a 7-Eleven – what are they holding? Asahi Dry, of course! (Beer girl for illustration, from a baseball game.)
Japan hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2019. One of the main sponsorship brands was Heineken which meant that other brands of beer could not be sold in the stadiums. Sacrilege! So, instead of the girls patrolling the aisles with a backpack of Asahi or Sapporo beer to serve you at your seat, they were wandering about with a tray filled with cans of Heineken which were not even a pint-glassful. Oh dear! Pictured here are England fans in Sapporo of all places, standing outside a 7-Eleven – what are they holding? Asahi Dry, of course! (Beer girl for illustration, from a baseball game.)
5. Above: Khao Chi Chan, Chonburi Province
Khao Chi Chan or Buddha Mountain can be seen from many vantage points all around, including from the motorway headed towards Rayong. The laser etched image is 109 metres tall and finished with gold inlay. There isn’t much to see beyond the photo-op, so it is best combined with the Chinese museum down the road. Last time I was there I was cycling on a small road round the back and got chased by a pack of snarling dogs. 'Oi - no selfies here!', the dogs seemed to be saying and anyway, at the top of the hill I was really out of puff and not looking very serene.
Khao Chi Chan or Buddha Mountain can be seen from many vantage points all around, including from the motorway headed towards Rayong. The laser etched image is 109 metres tall and finished with gold inlay. There isn’t much to see beyond the photo-op, so it is best combined with the Chinese museum down the road. Last time I was there I was cycling on a small road round the back and got chased by a pack of snarling dogs. 'Oi - no selfies here!', the dogs seemed to be saying and anyway, at the top of the hill I was really out of puff and not looking very serene.
6. Above: River Cruise, Bangkok
If you are looking for a special occasion treat, you could do worse than a river-cruise on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. You can book online with one of the many companies to choose from, setting off from Icon Siam or Asiatique. What you will get is a so-so buffet, some lively singing and Thai dancing, and of course the wind-in-the-hair views. What the show lacks in finesse is made up for in enthusiasm as loud and vibrant musical cheer echoes across the waters.
If you are looking for a special occasion treat, you could do worse than a river-cruise on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. You can book online with one of the many companies to choose from, setting off from Icon Siam or Asiatique. What you will get is a so-so buffet, some lively singing and Thai dancing, and of course the wind-in-the-hair views. What the show lacks in finesse is made up for in enthusiasm as loud and vibrant musical cheer echoes across the waters.
7. Above: Riding your Motorbike in HCMC
So much of the traffic in Vietnam is made up of motorbikes – 70 million are registered there, with 1 million produced in the first four months of 2023. Honda tops the pile. And yet, when it pours with rain, which it does frequently, you can guarantee you will be sopping wet. The plastic poncho that folks quickly don is all but useless. It might protect your handlebars and lap, but your legs and sides are in for a royal soaking. Even lifting your feet through the flooding offers scant protection – you still have to brake or change gear using your foot pedals! (Top pic pre-compulsory crash helmets.)
8. Above: Kanchanaburi, Thailand
The story of the Bridge over the River Kwai is well known, even if the film of the same name was shot in Sri Lanka. Allies bombed the original bridge, so this one is a replica. Still, a large tourist industry has grown up around the episode with many of the commemorative sites very tastefully realised. The Death Railway Museum, the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and the cemeteries are all worth visiting. It must be annoying for locals to hear ‘Kwai’ repeatedly mispronounced. The spelling is แคว which is ‘Kwair’. Mind you, most Thai words are mispronounced by foreigners.
9. Above: Wat Ratchabophit, Bangkok
Wat Ratchabophit is another of the royal first-class wats near the river in Bangkok. What distinguished it (for me) was the intricate tiled exterior. The exquisite designs certainly held one’s attention just for the sheer scale of the craftmanship. Talking of attention, the toy-soldiers built into the doors stand resolute as a unique feature. Admiring the walls was halted for a while as a huge storm came crashing down. It is also quite absorbing to sit under an alcove and watch a tropical storm in full flow – as ever, regardless of the time or day, there is plenty to reflect on!
10. Above: Shopping Arcades, Japan
A quaint shopping experience found in Japan is that of shopping arcades. These glass-roofed thoroughfares pre-date the bigger out of town malls and are located within easy reach of the town centre or a large station. Many of the outlets in them are non-franchise and look as though they have been there since forever. Perhaps that is what appeals, a set of quirky choices that buck the latest retail trends. There’s always a crowd wandering along, so something clearly works, and they often seemingly stretch for miles. Pictured here: Hiroshima, Otaru, Nagano and Kyoto.
11. Above: Blessing the Car, Chiang Mai
Luck is such a big thing in Asia. Don’t, whatever you do, ask someone if they really think that there is a controller of the fortunes of people with a hair growing out of a mole; people who shake sticks with numbers on them at the temple, or people who keep insects in a jar ready to alight on little number tags. Mind you, it’s the same all over, with black cats, ladders and shoes on the table. Pictured here, the blessing of the car for good luck. Insurance up to date for back-up!
12. Above: Hua Lamphong Station, Bangkok
Completed in 1916 in the Chinatown area of Bangkok, the railway hub that is Hua Lamphong Station serves just about everywhere in Thailand except Kanchanaburi. Its distinctive Italianate architecture is about to take a back seat when it is retired by Bang Sue Grand Station - soon to renamed Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. If the new name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, its superlatives will deliver a ‘wow’. It has 26 platforms as opposed to 12, and trains can exit the city on a high level, thus avoiding all the level crossings. It is the biggest station in SE Asia, and when fully functioning will link to China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore. All that might be a decade away though…
13. Above: Sumo in Japan
Sumo at the Budokan is probably on all tourists’ lists. You will likely be seated high up in the gods, so that the nuances of the sport are lost on you. Still, you do get to see the ritual that accompanies the spectacle. The traditions that are so important to sumo are well hidden to the untrained eye but the local fans, as in all sports, know what’s what, what’s great, not-so-great, or what’s unexpected. ‘Sanctuary’ on Netflix is recommended if you want to find out more.
14. Above: Wat Yansangwararam, Chonburi Province
South of Pattaya the area around Wat Yansangwararam is good for an hour or two’s exploration. You’ve got the wat itself, the Bodhagaya Stupa replica and the Chinese museum - Viharn Sien. The terra-cotta warriors in the museum are replicas but the bronze statues are real enough, displaying intricate detail. Just up the road is Buddha Mountain and you’ve got cycle lanes and good roads, with coffee-stops and restaurants evenly spaced between all the sights.
15. Above: Chiang Mai City Walls
When Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 it was built inside a square bounded by a moat and city walls. There has been much destruction over the years, but the walls have been restored in places and do give a ‘walled city’ feel to the place, even though the town now sprawls outside in all directions, with fast ring roads to take you anywhere and everywhere. The four gates and noted corners of the walls are still focal points, such as Thapae Gate on the east side and Jaeng Katam on the south-east corner. Driving round either side of the moat you have to keep your wits about you switching lanes repeatedly, as you anticipate the cars, bikes and baht-buses joining abruptly from U-turns and feeder roads.
When Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 it was built inside a square bounded by a moat and city walls. There has been much destruction over the years, but the walls have been restored in places and do give a ‘walled city’ feel to the place, even though the town now sprawls outside in all directions, with fast ring roads to take you anywhere and everywhere. The four gates and noted corners of the walls are still focal points, such as Thapae Gate on the east side and Jaeng Katam on the south-east corner. Driving round either side of the moat you have to keep your wits about you switching lanes repeatedly, as you anticipate the cars, bikes and baht-buses joining abruptly from U-turns and feeder roads.
16. Above: Wat Ton Kwen, Chiang Mai
Wat Ton Kwen south of Chiang Mai was built in 1858 in Lanna style. It is one of the few wooden wats in Chiang Mai Province, and well-hidden down a number of side roads. The visit benefitted from early morning tranquillity in well-kept grounds. As is often the case with key wats, the arrival to two busloads of tourists completely changed the mood from holy to unholy in sixty seconds! The appearance of tour buses normally signals time to beat a hasty retreat.
Wat Ton Kwen south of Chiang Mai was built in 1858 in Lanna style. It is one of the few wooden wats in Chiang Mai Province, and well-hidden down a number of side roads. The visit benefitted from early morning tranquillity in well-kept grounds. As is often the case with key wats, the arrival to two busloads of tourists completely changed the mood from holy to unholy in sixty seconds! The appearance of tour buses normally signals time to beat a hasty retreat.
17. Above: Asiatique The Riverfront, Bangkok
Asiatique The Riverfront on the Chao Phraya River is a collection of old warehouses that have been converted into bars, boutiques, restaurants and exhibition halls. It is also the starting point for river cruises. At the weekend the place is abuzz with folks enjoying the fairground and the night scene. Mind you, these shots were taken on Christmas Day just after the lockdown had finished, which might have accounted for the lively atmosphere. Exhibitions are also held there, including things like the recent Disney 100 which featured Frozen, Pixar Putt and Marvel Universe halls. There is a free ferry from Saphan Taksin and connection to the BTS, so it is not too difficult to get to.
Asiatique The Riverfront on the Chao Phraya River is a collection of old warehouses that have been converted into bars, boutiques, restaurants and exhibition halls. It is also the starting point for river cruises. At the weekend the place is abuzz with folks enjoying the fairground and the night scene. Mind you, these shots were taken on Christmas Day just after the lockdown had finished, which might have accounted for the lively atmosphere. Exhibitions are also held there, including things like the recent Disney 100 which featured Frozen, Pixar Putt and Marvel Universe halls. There is a free ferry from Saphan Taksin and connection to the BTS, so it is not too difficult to get to.
18. Above: Cycling to Nikko, Japan
The first time I visited Japan was in 2007 when I took a bicycle with the plan to go to Nikko and back. The new bike, straight out of the box, was part-assembled – but not properly - which made the first day a slog. Nikko from Narita is slightly uphill all the way. The benefit of that is that it is all downhill on the way back. Just as well, as I developed quite a bad bout of saddle-soreness making it painful to sit. I eagerly freewheeled, standing on the pedals whenever possible. The other thing was that none of the places I rode past matched the names on my Japanese map, so I didn’t really know where I was at any time. Pre-GPS, all I had was a compass on my handlebars and a Japanese-script map. How times change.
The first time I visited Japan was in 2007 when I took a bicycle with the plan to go to Nikko and back. The new bike, straight out of the box, was part-assembled – but not properly - which made the first day a slog. Nikko from Narita is slightly uphill all the way. The benefit of that is that it is all downhill on the way back. Just as well, as I developed quite a bad bout of saddle-soreness making it painful to sit. I eagerly freewheeled, standing on the pedals whenever possible. The other thing was that none of the places I rode past matched the names on my Japanese map, so I didn’t really know where I was at any time. Pre-GPS, all I had was a compass on my handlebars and a Japanese-script map. How times change.
19. Above: Wat Ratchaburana, Phitsanulok
Wat Ratchaburana dates from 1463 when the capital was moved from Ayutthaya to Phitsanulok. The original chedi is made up of a huge pile of bricks, right next to the River Nan and the main road. The interior of the chedi is said to host a Buddha relic. What I liked about this wat was that it is less well known than the famous Wat Yai a few hundred metres away, so it was really quiet. There was nobody else there that Sunday morning, which always helps when photographing antiquities.
Wat Ratchaburana dates from 1463 when the capital was moved from Ayutthaya to Phitsanulok. The original chedi is made up of a huge pile of bricks, right next to the River Nan and the main road. The interior of the chedi is said to host a Buddha relic. What I liked about this wat was that it is less well known than the famous Wat Yai a few hundred metres away, so it was really quiet. There was nobody else there that Sunday morning, which always helps when photographing antiquities.
20. Above: Laem Phak Bia, Phetchaburi (II)
The Royal Project in Phetchaburi is also linked to the cultivation of sea lettuce and sea grape in tanks. Outside the buildings, salt is produced naturally by evaporating seawater in basins. If the claims are to be believed, start getting into sea grape for a vitamin boost and especially for its anti-ageing properties. I’ll take a kilo – thanks. On this particular trip bucketfuls of microscopic crab larvae were released into the sea as part of the project’s conservation commitment.
The Royal Project in Phetchaburi is also linked to the cultivation of sea lettuce and sea grape in tanks. Outside the buildings, salt is produced naturally by evaporating seawater in basins. If the claims are to be believed, start getting into sea grape for a vitamin boost and especially for its anti-ageing properties. I’ll take a kilo – thanks. On this particular trip bucketfuls of microscopic crab larvae were released into the sea as part of the project’s conservation commitment.